“CHURSTONS”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 5

“CHURSTONS”

By

PAUL TRENT

(Author of “ The Vow,” “ Adam,” etc., etc.)

CHAPTER Xlll.—Continued. 11 The hours aren't too long—tor a man.” li© answered dryly. “ Then, too, she rather worries—takes things too serioubly. 1 * Mark made no comment, and very soon Mrs JLendridge left him alone with Janet. " How do you get on with Betty?” | tho latter'* asked. , •• 1 am thinking of leaving.” ! “ Does that mean you don't get I on?*’ she said quickly. •‘Not at all . . . only that I need j a change.’ * [ “I am rather sorry. Betty* ia a | clear, and she will miss you.” “I shall be glad ii you won’t j ;«Mvth*.n<r to her. ! Intend to tell her I v n Monday.” I .la net looked at him frankly and there was a question in her eyes. After a moment or two of hesitation she decided to ask it. ‘‘Do. you really dislike Betty?” ‘ No*. I have no personal feelings towards her.” • ‘ And yet most men have found her very attractive. Mr Lendridge—Mark —I like you.” “ Thanks - . . the feeling is reciprocated.” I'm one of the few women who can have and keep a man pal without any danger of there being any nonsense. [ t am offering you iny friendship. ’ “Which I accept with gratitude.” “ Good. Then we can talk to one another quite freely. Let us imagine that Betty asks you to stay on. Promise me you won’t refuse before you | have had a talk to me.” j “Whv should I promise that?” j “It is one of the obligations of the i friendship we have just ratified. I am not asking any very great thing of “ I'll give you that promise,” he said deliberately. “Good . . - have you ever had a woman ‘pal’ before?” “ Only my mother.” “he’s simply Ssweet, and when I think of her, I wonder you have hitherto barred women from your life. I’m going to be rude. Had you a very unhappy experience with some woman when" you were quite young'? Don’t answer if it will st-rai nour friendship.” “ J won’t answer.” “It would explain many things. Bv the by, Betty is going to take me up next week in what she terms her ‘ bus-’ ” “I do hope you -won’t go- he said quickly. “ She assures me there is no danger, fl understand she is quite a good pvi.2tor.” “ I haven’t seen her handle a machine.” . “You don’t approve oi women flying. I can see from your expression. Really, Mark, you are years behind the times. However, I believe I will take my chance. I have every confidence in Betty's skill. She’s having one of your new engines fixed to her machine.' * ‘ That will make it much too fast for a woman to handle. I must talk to her,” he cried in alarm. Will that do much good? Betty doesn’t know the meaning of fear. . . . Come to tea to-morrow.” “ I would prefer not, thank you.” “ You look worried, Mark. You are silly.” “ I've made you a promise and now J ask one of you. One of the obligations of friendship, you know,” lie said with a laugh; “ What is it?” “ Not to go Vip until the machine has been thoroughly tested;” “ I can promise that. In fact, it’s a relief to do so. Good-bye. Mark. Please don’t look so worried.” But the troubled look did not leave his face, when she had gone. CHAPTER XIV. After the correspondence had been dealt with, Lendridge decided to speak to Betty with reference to her flying an aeroplane with one of the new engines, and he approached tho subject bluntly. “ Miss Forbes tells me you’re having a new engine fixed in your ’bus,” he began. j " Yes. It will be ready this afterneon. I’m quite excited at the idea of trying her.” It is a mad idea. You cannot bo used to flying with an engine of such high power. I consider it rash and dangerous.” “ Especially for a woman.” “ Still I’m going to fly her.” she said calmly. I shall order the engine to lie taken out. I’m not going to allow you to risk your life. It’s simple foolishness, he said angrily. “ s news to me that you are in a position to countermand my orders.” . ICT e * s ai V’n risk, T take it with n ‘.' open. I am a. competent airwoman, and know what Tam doing. I must really ask you not to interfere in matters that don t concern you.” to e ° th,s afternoon?” Id° she answered sweetly. Cnank goodness Miss Forties won’t ailow you to risk her life.” “She is coming with me.” Sl l ©’ promised she wouldn’t without first consulting me. I shall most certainly advise her not to go.” Betty controlled her rising anger with , “ I suppose you would fly the mac.iine vourself, and you wouldn’t consKit'i ic dangerous to take Miss Forbes with you.” *• That is a very different proposition. “ Because you are a man and la “ Quite rigid.” “ Janet will do as she likes. But 1 shall go-” Mark smiled grimly, but made no answer. He was tempted to tell he; or his intention to leave her, but resisted the impulse, deciding to wait until the breeze passed over. He went his round of the different shops and then visited the shed where the men were putting the final touches to the machine which Betty intended to use. “What time is Miss Churston going up?” he asked a mechanic- “ Three o'clock, sir,” was the answer. Mark stayed in the office until the man had left, and before going home to lunch paid another visit to the shed. His lins were firmly pressed together when he went away. At half-past two Betty and Janet arrived together at the office. “Betty told me what you said. I’ve decided not to go with her,” the latter murmured. “ T think you are wise,” Mark said quietly. Shortly before three o'clock the two girls wont away, and Mark went on with his work. He was dictating a letter when Betty appeared, her face Gushed with indignation “Some one has been tampering with my engine,” she said vehemently. “ "What’s the matter?” “The engine has been deliberately tampered with.” .“Much damage done?” he asked gravely. “No . . ’* she answered, and her eves rested on him with suspicion. • vou responsible for the damage?’' sh<* demanded. . - *•1 wasreplied calmly.

The. colour flamed to her cheeks, and she wqß about to answer furiously, when Janet came in. “Steady, old girl. You won’t help matters by losing your temper. Knock off work for the day, and talk to Mr Lendridge in the morning,” she urged. Betty hesitated, but finally decided to follow her friend’s advice. “All right,” she answered shortly, arid went away. Mark had quite anticipated a scene, and was surprised at her self-control. La'ter on h© went to the shed and gave orders: In the morning he got up at six o’clock and put on his flying kit. Before seven he was seated in the aeroplane, and the mechanics started the propeller. It was some time since he had flown, but as ho left the ground the old feeling of exhilaration came back to him. The engine was very powerful, and ho shoved her nose into the air, rising at a rapid pace. But it was as he hail expected, for he found it no easy matter to control the aeroplane, in spite of his great skill. For a time he circled round, and finally made rather a bad landing on the smooth ground in front of the hangar. _ „ “I’m certainly out of practice, he muttered to himselL After paying a visit to the office, he went home for breakfast. It chanced that his mother detained him lor a tew minutes, so that he returned a little I:,ter than usual. As he neared the works the hum of an aeroplane greeted him, and lip saw the machine which he had flown that morning taxi-mg along th© grofind. He watched her rise, and wont on to the office. “Is that Miss Churston r ’ he asicecl curtly. , ~ . “ Ye 3, sir,” answered the foreman mechanic, as he gazed admiringly at the rapidly rising machine. “By Jove, she knows her work, sir.” Mark watched the aeroplane, .ana was annoyed at the commotion within him. Was it anger? Was it fear? Ho only knew that _ his heart was thumping madly. His eyes followed Betty, and he saw, with relief, that the machine was perfectly under trol- To his amazement she suddenly started, doing “stunts,” and lie swore beneath his breath. But soon sue tired of this amusement, and rose still highor. At last she came down, with a beautifully executed spiral, and made ii really perfect, landing, pulling up a few vards from him. ** J saw you just as T was going up,” ah© called to him gaily. With a lauch she jumped to tho ground, and slowly began to take off her gloves. “Well?” she asked triumphantly. “ As rash and stupid a performance as ever I saw,” he said grimly. “ You’ll admit that I can handle the machine.” “ Yes—l’ll admit that. . . . With your knowledge of flying, you’ll admit that nin’ve been taking unnecessary j riskg. To perform those sort of tricks you should be in a ’bus you know, and cue that, has been well tried. Bv going through the performance to which you treated me, you’ve only proved your unfitness to have authority.” “Indeed?” 11 You probably wished fo impress mo by your skill. I’m only impressed by your foolishness.” They were walking towards the # office, and her face was turned from him, so that he could not see the effect of his words. He fully anticipated an explosion, anil was amazed when she faced him nutli flushed face. “Mr Lendridge,” I deserve all yon said. I was swanking to impress you. f knew I ought not to have done those tricks. 1 was in a tearing funk while f was doing them.” “ I’m afraid I was very rude. After all. !fc was no business of mine. But I shall be grateful if you won’t, take unnecessary risks. Truly that ’bus isn’t fit for you to fly.” “ 1 knew that before I’d been in the nir :i couple of minutes. My arms and wrists positively ache.” And yet you went ori with you* (tight— why?” “ T suppose—because the devil was in mo. Mr Lendridge, you often raise the devil in me.” “ T am sorry.” 41 By the by, I hear Foster is leaving | us.” j Yes—he’s got a job away some- | “ What about his reference?” ahe | arked. anxiously. | “ T’il deal with that,” he answered | quickly. | ‘Have yon anything to do with-his j going avrav'P” I tl Yen. T arranged it.” i " Without consulting me. Really, j Mr Lendridge, you are impossible. Yon knew T took an interest in the man.” - she said indignantly. “ It ’s tt simple matter to rejdnco j bun. There are thousands of Fosters ! looking for a job. He will be hapj pier £ Way from us, under the circum- • StfinqflS.” “That’s not quite the point. It is your failure to consult me. I don’t care to be overlooked in this way. We shall hive t-o arrive at an understanding.” “ 1 quite agree sritli you, and the sooner the hotter.'’ “ Yes\ we’ll have a chat, after we’ve dealt with the correspondence.” But when that was accomplished, there followed a succession or ,important callers that kept them busy till lunch time; and when Mark returned to the office Betty was not there, and did not v appear, a telephone message being sent to the-effect' that she was indisposed. Mark was glad that their talk was delayed, for Tie could have a longer time for consideration. It struck him as being very curious that he no longer se»rned- so desirous to leave “ Churstons." Bcrhaps.it >vas because he had been there so long, and had had a hand in tho making of the business. That night lie discussed the matter with his mother. *' Miss Churston irritates me more i than ever, yet I am loth to leave, dust lately, L don’t understand myself. Perhaps I am run down and need a. change,” he said suddenly. You certainly have worked very hard, without any rest. VvTiy not go awaydor a week—to tli.e seaside for pre- \\ ill you come with me?” “ No. I think you will be better alone. Postpone your chat with Miss Chursioii. During your absence she’ll have a c-hanee of realising your value. Perhaps she will even go so far as to offer you a partnership on her own account. and not because her father wanted it.” I don’t want a .partnership with aer. he answered impatientlv. Mrs Lend rid.ire bent, her head over her work upon which she was engaged, to Irni© the smile she could not subdue. (To he? Continued. - )